GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — A farewell function was held at the Graaff-Reinet Club last Friday, where around 40 people gathered to wish Stefan and Erka Cramer well as they return to their native Germany.
Doug Stern, president of Agri Eastern Cape, spoke with obvious sincerity about the loss that will be felt by not only the farming community but all in Graaff-Reinet and the wider Karoo area.
He adapted a quote from the great British statesman Winston Churchill after the Battle of Britain to fit his feelings about the Cramers: “Never have so many - owed so much - to the two of you”.
He commended the Cramers on the professional manner in which they conducted their research on fracking, and the profound statements made relative to the dangers that would be faced in the event of this “madness” ever materialising.
He also commented on the tremendous amount of time the Cramers spent talking to and educating people from poorer backgrounds.
“This you did with such conviction that you no doubt won their hearts and support” he said. They were also taught about the alternatives to fossil fuel energy - namely renewable energy.
According to Stern, probably the biggest impact they made on particularly the farming communities was the exposure of the uranium open cast mining threat which was about to slip under the radar towards the end of 2015.
He felt that their influence was such that they were able to mobilise the farming communities in both the Eastern Cape and Western Cape resulting in the majority of applications for prospecting being withdrawn.
He again commended the Cramers’ involvement with the poorer communities, which led to the overwhelming support that was forthcoming from them because they had been correctly informed about the dangers of open-cast uranium mining.
Speaking with his Agri “hat”, he concluded by saying that agriculture has formed the economic backbone for over 200 years for the rural towns, not only in the Eastern Cape, but also in the entire country.
“We cannot and must not allow any form of mining activity that will impact on the environment to the extent of crippling a long-standing and sustainable industry”.
The Cramers were presented with a coffee-table book on the Karoo, which it is hoped will keep the area alive in their hearts for many years to come.
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